During American Heart Month, Cabarrus Health Alliance held its annual "Go Red Day" event to increase public awareness of heart disease risk factors and prevention. (From left: Amber Brown, Paige Waldrop)

During American Heart Month, Cabarrus Health Alliance held its annual "Go Red Day" event to increase public awareness of heart disease risk factors and prevention. Presenting at the Auditorium location in Kannapolis is: Nellie Wosu

Local Initiatives
Cabarrus Health Alliance’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Cabarrus County and the South Central Region of North Carolina through policy and environmental change. By working with multiple partner organizations in settings across the 12 counties of the South Central Region, we are specifically addressing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, quality of cardiovascular care, and awareness of stroke signs and symptoms.

 In 2008-2009, the HDSP program is focusing on the following projects:

Continuing Education for Healthcare Professionals
We will increase the number of continuing education opportunities offered to health care and emergency response professionals that focus on proper blood pressure and cholesterol measurement and follow-up guidelines, racial and ethnic disparities in CVD, and best practices in cardiovascular care.

Worksite Wellness
We will encourage local businesses to adopt policies to include worksite wellness programs that will educate employees on blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke.

Quality Improvement Programs for Hospitals and Physicians
We will increase the participation of hospitals and primary care physicians in CVD quality improvement programs such as the North Carolina Chronic Disease Management Collaborative, National Committee for Quality Assurance Heart/Stroke Recognition Program, Paul Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry, and the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines Programs.

African American Education through Faith-Based Organizations
We will partner with African American churches and organization to promote CVD education programs, regular blood pressure screenings, and CPR training.

Public Awareness
We will work with local community groups and the media to increase public awareness of heart disease and stroke prevention, risk factors, signs/symptoms, and treatment.

Contact Info:
Paige Waldrop, MSPH
NC Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program
Regional Program Coordinator
Phone: 704-920-1311
E-mail: RPWaldrop@cabarrushealth.org

For more information please visit: www.startwithyourheart.com